Cutbacks on grass-cutting in Brymbo 'creating traffic hazard'

OVERGROWN grass at a road junction could cause a fatal crash, a former community councillor has warned.

Brian Stapely from Brymbo has hit out at Wrexham Council over poor visibility for drivers pulling out onto the B5102 Minera to Mold road from junctions in Brymbo.

The length of the grass means drivers are not able to see the whole of the road from the edge of the junction from the Brymbo Pool road.

There is a similar problem at the junction of the B5102 and Vicarage Road, leading to St Mary’s Church.

And Mr Stapely says drivers have to edge out into the road to get a clear view, leaving them at risk of being hit side on.

“I called the council and they said they were saving money by reducing grass cuts,” he said.

“It is ok saving money but what about saving lives?”

Last month, the council changed tack on the scale of the reduction to the grounds maintenance budget, meaning all areas would receive a minimum of four cuts for the 2014-15 financial year. Before that climbdown some areas were only set for two cuts from April 2014 to April 2015.

Four cuts is still half the number for 2013-14.

And the council had previously announced plans for a further £200,000 of cuts from its grounds maintenance budget for the 2015-16 financial year, but the decision was deferred at the May executive board meeting.

Mr Stapely, 67, said the knock-on effect for Brymbo residents was putting them in danger.

He added: “If you stand smack in the middle of the junction you still can’t see anything.